Possible cougar sighting in rural McCook pasture

A stuffed cougar stares forlornly at passersby-in in a museum. Wildlife experts say that although cougars resemble the domestic cat, they are about the same size as an adult human. Connie Jo Discoe/Gazette archives

McCOOK, Nebraska -- There are certain corners of Spanky's pasture that he won't go into. "Even if I'm with him," Madison Shepherd says, he shies away from the heavily-treed areas of his pasture located about 3 1/2 miles east of McCook, Nebraska, across the road east of the Weathercraft roofing yard.

That's because Spank, Madison and Mary Ellinger and her granddaughter have all seen what they believe is a cougar, or a mountain lion.

Madison (a junior at McCook Senior High) was riding Spank about two weeks ago, she said, when she saw movement out the corner of her eye, and turned to watch two cougar kits trying to hide by a tree. More movement, about 100 yards away, Madison said, and a "big, golden-colored cat" was walking toward the trees.

Madison said, "Despite my better judgement, I moved us closer. Something spooked Spank, and he dumped me ... left me there. I watched something going after him, coming out of the thick trees."

Madison described that "something" as "big, straw-colored cat," walking about 200 feet away, toward her horse.

Neither Madison nor Spank were hurt, but it "definitely scared me," Madison said.

Madison has seen footprints and droppings in the pasture. "There are certain areas of the pasture Spank won't go into, even if I'm with him," Madison said. "That's suspicious, too."

Mary Ellinger, who has a pasture near Madison's, has seen the big cat, too. "It wasn't a bobcat. It's too big for a bobcat," Mary said. She described it with brownish, shiny, short hair.

At about the same time two weeks ago, Mary and her granddaughter watched the animal about 400 feet from Spanky, moving toward him. "He (the big cat) backed off when he saw us watching him," Mary said.

Mary hasn't seen the big cat or footprints in her pasture. She's hoping it won't go after her older horses.

Madison has set up a trail camera, and thus far has had no luck capturing the animal on film. She thinks there's a good possibility they'll see something. "It's not afraid to be out in the open," she said.

Mary hopes the big cat has taken her kits and moved south to the river.